THE SOCIOLOGY OF ETHNIC CONFLICTS - COMPARATIVE INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES

Oppositions and deadly conflicts among ethnic collectives are importan t around the world. Ethnies (our term for ethnic groups) also strongly affect interstate relations. Both interethnic and ethnic-state confli cts tend to be severe, protracted, and intractable. At the extremes, t he stakes are total: survival versus genocide. Competition and rivalry for individualized economic and political goods are important, but th e most intense conflicts are to be expected when the stakes are collec tive goods, including categorical claims to prestige and political aut hority. States are major actors in creating, accentuating, or diminish ing ethnic identities. States are both arenas of rivalry and conflict and resources for ethnic mobilization and counter-mobilization. Becaus e both ethnies and states are diverse, careful specification is requir ed for fruitful analysis. The same dictum applies for the diverse type s of oppositions and of conflicts. Ethnic conflicts arise from complex combinations of ethnic strength, class, inequality, political opportu nity, mobilization resources, interdependence, and international inter ventions. Frequent but nonviolent protests, for example, are most like ly by organized collectivities with substantial resources, operating i n relatively open political systems. International aid to parties in d omestic conflicts appears to prolong and intensify ethnic struggles. R esearch in this field contends with many difficulties, and one-sided t heories do not fare well. Yet abundant descriptive materials are avail able, statistical techniques are improving, conceptual clarification c ontinues, and substantive knowledge does accumulate. Accordingly, ther e is hope for better understanding of some of the most destructive and tragic conflicts of our times.